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Young on both sides of debate as House health bill vote is delayed
Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.
Republicans in the U.S. House have postponed the vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act as they try to overcome opposition from members of their own party. As many as two dozen Republican conservatives oppose the bill on grounds that it doesn’t repeal enough of the ACA. A smaller number of Republican moderates say it doesn’t replace enough. And Alaska Congressman Don Young is a little bit in both camps.
Walker: Up to 45K Alaskans could lose coverage with GOP bill
Associated Press
Gov. Bill Walker says as many as 45,000 Alaskans could lose health care coverage under the current Republican bill proposed in the U.S. House.
Palmer man faces federal charges in 2016 double homicide
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
A Palmer man faces federal charges in a Wasilla double homicide last summer, and the defendant, 30-year-old John Pearl Smith II, could face the death penalty.
Police on lookout for Fairbanks library shooter
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
A man was shot in a Fairbanks North Star Borough library. A press release from Fairbanks Police says fire fighters initially responded to the Noel Wien Library on Airport Way at about 1:15 PM Wednesday (March 23), after receiving a call about a patron being injured by an exploding cell phone battery.
Military officials discuss REAL ID urgency, other issues
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
Time is running out for Alaskans who work on military bases to get IDs like passports that comply with federal law ahead of an early June deadline. Alaska National Guard leader Major Gen. Laurie Hummel spoke about the effect of federal REAL ID Act requirements during the state’s military leaders’ annual visit to the Legislature Thursday (March 23).
Huge fine issued for dangerous incident at Anchorage power plant
Elizabeth Harball, Alaska’ Energy Desk – Anchorage
The state is fining three companies nearly 900 thousand dollars combined for violations that led to a dangerous incident last year at a power plant in East Anchorage. The companies were involved with construction of Municipal Light and Power’s Plant 2A, which started operating last year.
Emperor goose hunt will bring temporary jobs to 6 YK Delta villages
Anna Rose MacArthur, KYUK – Bethel
The subsistence emperor goose hunt expected to open April 2 will bring more than meat and a resumed tradition to the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. In some communities, it will also bring jobs.
Fish and Game says crab counts were low this season, fishermen disagree
Zoe Sobel, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Unalaska
The Bering Sea Bairdi (or Tanner) crab fishery stayed closed this year, for the first time in four years. State biologists decided there were too few crab to safely harvest. But fishermen are questioning that decision. They say there were plentiful Bairdi when they were fishing for other species.
Inter-Island Ferry attracts more passengers
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau
Southeast Alaska’s independent ferry system is working its way out of a ridership slump.
Fox Spring could remain under state ownership
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Private funding could keep the Fox Spring in state ownership. The Alaska Department of Transportation has pursued sale of the Elliot Highway property to an adjacent land owner, as a cost saving measure, but a local group working to keep the longtime water source in public hands, has an alternative plan.
Ask a Climatologist: Clear and cold on repeat
Annie Feidt, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage
For most of the state the weather forecast has been pretty simple for the entire month of March: cold and clear. But how unusual is that?
